Public parks around Newport are a little more crowded this summer, thanks to the Summer Meals Program that provides free, healthy meals to children under age 18, regardless of the family’s income level.
Anyone visiting the parks during lunchtime Monday through Friday may have noticed the dark blue coolers surrounded by young children. The kids come from all over the community not only to enjoy a healthy meal, but also to play and make friends.

The mission at Chartwells K12 is to serve the best meals full of nutrition and flavor for your kids! Get the scoop this morning on what your kid could be seeing on the menu in school this fall. Chef Peter Gilhooly, Chartwells K12 VP of Culinary, gives a sneak peek at what we can find… “We’re changing the way school dining is today… we’re taking identifiable foods and incorporating new ingredients to make them wholesome, nutritious and delicious”. He features a white bean and chicken taco with a citrus avocado salsa, teaches the anchors how to make fresh tortillas, and highlights our teaching kitchen and gardening programs as opportunities that we offer for students to learn about where their food comes from​

The summer program started in June and with the help of a new food truck, Chartwells has provided between 14,000 to 15,000 meals to hungry children in Wichita Falls. …"A lot of the feedback from the local community has been very positive and very supportive," said Farai Sithole, the district manager of Chartwells K12. "They like the fact that we're reaching out to the local community to provide meals to where the students are. Safety is a big piece of that so the community really appreciates that." Sithole told board members the number of participation has doubled compared to last year.

The school year runs just the opposite of the growing season, making it difficult for educators to teach kids how to garden. But many school systems enlist volunteers to prep garden beds while students are on summer break, making the crops ready to tend when classes resume in September. “We’re working against nature but we add a lot of season extenders,” said Seth Raabe, South Whidbey (Island) School Farms coordinator in Langley, Washington. “That includes greenhouses and different plant varieties. We want to get the school gardens going as early as possible and then extend them as late as possible in order to fit class schedules.”

People who achieve the most in life are keen on self-improvement, which is why they're also often voracious readers. Here are some excellent titles to check out, recommended by nearly two dozen successful executives. … 5. “Multipliers by Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown” Most leaders today are being asked to do more with less, and, for me, this book is a road map of how to do that the right way. … --Belinda Oakley, CEO of Chartwells K12, one of America's largest food-service providers, serving more than 4,000 schools across the United States.

Chartwells, the food service provider for the program, has provided meals for summer school. Wallin commended Chartwells for supporting teachers in the program, noting that for an “international tour” activity the food service provider cooked international dishes for the students to sample as well as the regular menu for the day.

A Chartwells K12 program is offering Jacksonville children a hot free meal during the summer. In participation with the 2018 Summer Food Service Program, any child age 18 or younger may receive a free nutritious hot breakfast and a free hot lunch at any of the 90 Duval County participating schools' cafeteria.

​There's nothing better than a grocery store with so many options you wouldn't mind getting locked in there for a week straight. (Just me?) But what do you get when each Aldi aisle is a mile long? Let this nutritionist-approved grocery list guide the way….Fit & Active Multi-Grain With Flax Flatbread: Thanks to its helping of heart-healthy flax, Margie Saidel, R.D., vice president of nutrition and sustainability at Chartwells K12, says this source of plant protein will keep your hunger pangs at bay. Top it with lean turkey, lettuce and tomato, or hummus and roasted vegetables for a delicious and nutritious meal or snack. … Stonemill Salt-Free Original Flavor Seasoning Blend: Sprinkling this salt-free seasoning on a salmon filet or sautéed chicken breast punches up the flavor without packing on unnecessary calories, Saidel says. ​

Will Ratley, an Executive Chef and Regional Director for DCPS shows us the delicious breakfast meals that 8,000-10,000 students in Duval are being served each day as part of the Summer Meal Program this year. All of our sites in Duval serve a fresh hot breakfast every single day. From yogurt parfaits, sausages and cage-free eggs to made-from-scratch muffins and breads, students 18 and under can enjoy a truly well-rounded meal. “There’s no excuse! “said the reporter, “Skip the dollar menu and get a full-fledged, delicious hot breakfast!”